Abstract

CUNAT LADRON DE GUEVARA, Yoanna; SALAZAR FLORES, Leyanis  and  FROMETA RODRIGUEZ, Enerolisa. Effectiveness of the acupuncture treatment in bronchial asthma. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.2. ISSN 0864-0319.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effectiveness of the acupuncture treatment in bronchial asthma. METHODS: a descriptive study was conducted in the health area of Bayate, El Salvador municipality, Guantánamo province, in April 2005-2006. The universe was composed of asthmatic patients that were seen at the Natural and Traditional Medicine ward. The sample included those patients aged 15-50. RESULTS: on treating them, it was observed that most of them were 39-44 years old. The acupuncture scheme with best response comprised the points P-7 (lung-7), P-5 (lung 5), GV-14 (governing vessel 14), Ig-11 (small intestine 11), CV 17 (conception vessel 17) and Din Shawn. The meridian from 8 to 11 a.m. had the greatest number of patients, the time of relapses was 3 months and the most used conventional treatment was aminophiline. CONCLUSIONS: the cost-benefit-improvement was favourable. 79.7 % improved and $20.85 were saved per each of the patients taking medications and what's more important the patients were less prone to suffer adverse reactions to drugs.

Keywords : Bronchial asthma; therapy; acupuncture treatment.